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Tag: Kante

  • Lampard told best position to play Kante

    Former Chelsea star, Gus Poyet, has urged manager, Frank Lampard to play midfielder, N’Golo Kante, in a central midfield position.

    Much was made of the decision by former Chelsea manager, Maurizio Sarri, to play Jorginho at the base of the club’s midfield, which pushed Kante into a more advanced box-to-box role.

    Lampard, who was expected to reinstate Kante to his favoured defensive central midfield, said the France star is just too good to sit and defend in the midfield.

    But Poyet feels Kante is still being played out of position by Lampard, adding that the former Leicester City star is a unique player.

    “In very important games, Lampard went with Kante, Jorginho, and Kovacic until the last month with injuries,” Poyet told Goal.

    “Those are the three most experienced players who played under Sarri, but now they play with more freedom, especially in Jorginho having more possibilities to move around to go sideways and forward.

    “Last year, he was very static. There are plenty of options. In Kante’s first year, he came to Chelsea, and I made it public that he is the best central midfielder in the world.

    “After a previous season as a number eight in that different position, we lost how important and unique he was as a player.

    “I hope he can get back to that. In his best position, he is unique, and there are not many players that can give you what he can do right now.”

  • Kante signs new five-year deal to remain at Stamford Bridge

    Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante has signed a new five-year deal to keep him at the club until 2023.

    The France international, 27, has scored three goals in 81 Premier League appearances for the Blues after joining from Leicester City in 2016.

    Chelsea won the league title in Kante’s first season at Stamford Bridge and he was named the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year.

    “It has been two beautiful years and I wish for more to come,” he said.

    “Since I came, I have completely improved as a player, challenged myself and got some awards I never thought about.

    “I like the city, I like the club and I am happy to be here for more time.”

    Kante has 36 caps for France and was a member of their World Cup-winning squad in Russia this summer.

    Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said: “When he arrived, we knew we had signed a special player – but he has astounded everybody with his tireless and unselfish displays.

    “Off the pitch, he remains a dedicated professional and a humble human being despite the fact he is a world champion and a two-time Premier League winner.

    “We now look forward to five more years with N’Golo at the heart of the Chelsea midfield.”

     

  • Kante wants to leave Chelsea – Cascarino

    Former Republic of Ireland star Tony Cascarino has said that Ngolo Kante will leave Chelsea because Maurizio Sarri has handed his role to another player at Stamford Bridge.
    Kante has been used in a more advanced role under Sarri with Jorginho protecting the back four.
    Speaking to The Times, Cascarino said: “N’Golo Kante is looking like he is unhappy with the position he is playing in.
    “That is a worry for Chelsea because they could lose him if he is unsettled.
    “This is a player who will be wanted by every club in Europe.
    “He still looks a quality player, but I’m not convinced he’s suited to this more advanced role on the right of a midfield three with Jorginho in the central sitting role.
    “When he plays in that deeper role he glides across the pitch.
    “He’s everywhere in front of the back four, robbing the ball from the opposition and running at pace, passing people, feeding the more advanced players.
    “In that position, he’s the best in the world, but he’s not in his present one.
    “Maurizio Sarri said after Saturday’s draw with Chelsea that United are better in a physical game and I thought that was telling.”

  • Jorginho, Kante score in Chelsea win over Huddersfield

    Jorginho, Kante score in Chelsea win over Huddersfield

    Jorginho marked his Premier League debut with a goal as Chelsea kicked off their campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Huddersfield Town at the John Smith’s Stadium.

    Italy international Jorginho passed home a fearless penalty in the 45th minute as Maurizio Sarri earned his first competitive win at the helm after his team went down to Manchester City in the Community Shield last weekend, while fellow debutant and the world’s most expensive goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga started with a clean sheet.

    Jorginho, who followed Sarri’s path from Napoli for a reported £50million, added to the opener from World Cup-winning midfielder N’Golo Kante, who returned as one of three changes to the team that lost to City.

    Huddersfield struggled to test the Kepa his first outing since joining from Athletic Bilbao for £72m as Chelsea dominated the second period, with Pedro adding the gloss after a brilliant counter-attack launched by substitute Eden Hazard.

    Chelsea were lacking dynamism and conviction as Huddersfield sat deep and proved difficult to break down, but Pedro’s driving run and pass out to Willian enabled the Brazilian to pick out Kante, who scuffed a left-footed volley into the ground and inside the far post in the 34th minute.

    Huddersfield were a persistent threat from crosses into the box and they went close to an equaliser when Steve Mounie headed Mathias Jorgensen’s flick-on against the inside of the upright.

    But Chelsea again punctuated a strong spell for the hosts with a goal, Jorginho sitting debutant Ben Hamer down with a skip in his run-up for an incredibly cool spot-kick after Christopher Schindler caught Marcos Alonso at the end of a neat move from the Blues.

    The Blues were the sole aggressors in the second half and, after Hamer parried a header from Antonio Rudiger behind, Alonso sent an acrobatic effort against the crossbar in the 58th minute.

    Hazard came on for Willian for just his second outing since the World Cup and poked a pass through the legs of Terence Kongolo for Pedro to lift Chelsea’s third beyond Hamer and round off a routine win.

    Maurizio Sarri’s first competitive win in charge of Chelsea came after goals

  • Kante opens up on rumoured Chelsea exit

    French midfielder, N’Golo Kante has spoken out on rumours of leaving Chelsea for Paris Saint Germain.

    The midfielder has committed his future to the club amid interest from the Ligue 1 giants.

    The Frenchman joined Chelsea from Leicester in 2016 and won the PFA Player of the Year award in his debut season as Antonio Conte guided the Blues to the league title.

    The French international’s second season at Stamford Bridge has not been as successful and Chelsea are currently struggling to finish in the top four in order to gain Champions League football.

    PSG are reported to be interested in Kante but the France international says Stamford Bridge is his ‘home’.

    He told reporters, “I am at home. It is my club, I am a Chelsea player. This is my second year at Chelsea. After what happened last season, it was a very good one for us because we got to celebrate winning the title.

    “In the second season, I have got to play in the Champions League and we are going again to finish in the top four.”

    Kante is refusing to give up and said the Blues could finish in the top four and win the FA Cup.

    “We will fight until the end to finish in the top four and to get in a Champions League position,’ continued Kante.

    “We also have the FA Cup to play for – it is a good competition. Last season we failed in the final.

    “It is the only trophy we can win this season, so we have to give everything to get to the final and win it,” he said.

  • Ndidi Named In Top 100 Players Of 2017, Better Than Kante

    Celebrated sports television channel Sky Sports has published on its website the Top 100 players of 2017, with only one Nigerian making the prestigious list.

    Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi clocked in at number 65 and ranked higher than top Premier League stars David de Gea (Manchester United), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), N’Golo Kante (Chelsea), and Emre Can (Liverpool).

    ”Ndidi cannot shake off the comparisons to N’Golo Kante, given that he was tasked with filling the Frenchman’s boots when the latter left for Chelsea in 2016,” Sky Sports wrote.

    ”However, the midfielder is proving to be a rock in midfield for the Foxes – an average of 4.3 tackles per game this season is comfortably the highest rate in the Premier League.”

    Ndidi’s stock has continued to rise since his transfer to the Foxes from Racing Genk, and was recently named the Most Valuable U21 player in the whole of Africa in a survey conducted by the CIES Football Observatory.

    Sky Sports published the rating of top 100 players of 2017 across Europe’s top five leagues using the Sky Sports Power Rankings.

    allnigeriasoccer

  • Kante beats Hazard, Ibrahimovic, others, wins 2016/17 PFA player award

    N’Golo Kante has won the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award for 2016-17.

    The Chelsea midfielder, 26, beat Eden Hazard, Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alexis Sanchez in the vote by his fellow players.

    Kante was key to Leicester’s surprise Premier League win last year and could become first player to achieve the distinction of winning successive titles with different clubs if Chelsea can stay ahead of Spurs in this season’s race.

    Since signing Kante in July, Chelsea have gone from a mid-table finish to the top of the pile with six games to play.

    In his absence, Leicester have largely struggled to replicate their heroics of last season and are still not safe from relegation.

    France international Kante has played every minute in the league this season apart from the Boxing Day game against Bournemouth, when he was suspended, and the final 11 minutes against Tottenham on Jan. 4.

    Kante said: “It’s a huge honour to be chosen by the other players. It’s the biggest honour to get this award.”

    The midfielder is on course to win the Premier League with Chelsea, having done so last season at Leicester, and added: “My first two seasons were very beautiful.

    “Last season was very beautiful. This season so far, we have had a good season but we have to finish well.”

    Tottenham’s Dele Alli won the young player prize for the second successive year, while Manchester City’s Lucy Bronze won the Women’s Player of the Year award.

    Birmingham’s Jess Carter was named Women’s Young Player of the Year.

    Former England captain David Beckham received the PFA’s Merit award for his contribution to the game during the ceremony at the Grosvenor Hotel in London on Sunday.

    Also, former England women’s captain Kelly Smith – who became England’s first female professional footballer when she joined American side New Jersey in 1999 – landed the PFA Special Achievement award.

     

     

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  • Premiership: I want the title or nothing, Conte warns Hazard, Kante

    Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has told Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante to forget about individual awards and focus on ensuring the Premier League leaders are crowned champions.

    Chelsea stars Hazard and Kante were named this week on the six-man shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year award, along with Tottenham’s Harry Kane, Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez and Everton’s Romelu Lukaku.

    Conte acknowledged Belgium playmaker Hazard and France midfielder Kante deserved nominations for their part in Chelsea’s rise to a seven-point lead at the top of the table.

    “But I don’t like to make a choice between two of my players. It’s not right. They deserve the best because they are having a good season, but I think all my players are having a great season.

    “I’m pleased because it’s a fight between two of my players and four other players from other teams. I want to see who is the winner.”

    Although the title fight is far from over, Chelsea have already been linked with a host of transfer targets for next season, including Everton striker Lukaku.

    The Belgian, who has scored 24 goals this season, has already had one spell with Chelsea before being sold by former Blues boss Jose Mourinho in 2014.

    Chelsea legend Didier Drogba recently said Lukaku still has a point to prove at “the house he knows”, but Conte was keen to play down talk of a possible move for the powerful forward.

    “I think it’s not the right time to talk about this,” he said.

    “I have great respect for Drogba, a legend for Chelsea, but I can’t talk about this.

    “It’s not right to talk about players from other teams, we must have respect for players and other clubs.”